Fight Path: How Kendall Grove led Lolohea Mahe to Friday's Strikeforce main event

Look at the man in the photo, and imagine him in a few different
situations.

Lolohea Mahe looks like he fits in the mixed-martial-arts cage, right?

What about a church choir, where the Hawaiian sings in his native Maui at the place of worship where his father still preaches and his brother is the music director?

What if you’re staying at a hotel, and you see this 6-foot-1, 265-pounder delivering flowers to the place in the morning?

All three pieces are true about the powerful Hawaiian who is trying to rebound from his only career loss with a win or several wins to set up a rematch.

After losing to Lavar Johnson at Strikeforce Challengers 7 in March to drop his record to 7-1-1, Mahe headlines Friday’s Showtime-televised Strikeforce Challengers 9 event against undefeated Shane Del Rosario in Everett, Wash. It is Mahe’s next chance to show thw strength he has proven during a fighting career that began when he spotted an old friend – Kendall Grove – on “The Ultimate Fighter 3″ and thought he should try.

Since taking his first fight without any MMA training and without much more warning, Mahe has overwhelmed many opponents and impressed organizers with the instincts he learned in street fighting.

But one wouldn’t grasp all that after a conversation with Mahe, a 28-year-old who still makes his home in Maui. He’s a soft-spoken son of a preacher and Sunday school teacher who many believe is on the verge of major opportunities.

If he can just avenge that one loss.

“I think his future is gonna be huge,” manager John Steeber of KO Dynasty told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I think he’ll go in there strong for this fight, take care of business and move on.”

No experience necessary

Mahe grew up four houses away from Grove in Maui, which many would consider a paradise in which to grow up.

His background doesn’t seem like it would lead to aggressiveness. Although Mahe’s father had previously played rugby, he grew up to be a preacher. His mother taught Sunday school. In fact, most of his family is connected to the church in some way.

He and Grove would sometimes make fighting videos while goofing around behind a local youth center during their high-school days. They put on gloves and would do real punching while showing a prowess for aggressiveness that would later serve them both well.

“We would pretty much be swinging wild, but we were really going at it,” Mahe said. “We had both been in fights on ths street and stuff like that, and we just liked it.”

Grove would soon spend plenty more time in front of a camera. By winning “TUF 3″ in 2006, he began a string of 11 UFC fights during which he has compiled a 7-4 record.

Mahe watched that TUF Finale, in which Grove topped Ed Herman in a unanimous decision, back in Maui, and it looked like something he could try. Before long, he got a phone call from Grove, who said he could get Mahe a spot in a fight a few weeks later if he were interested.

He was. But, those amateur video fights with Grove were the most organized fighting experience he had.

Big-time power

Mahe decided to go on instinct.

“I hadn’t really trained,” he said. “The most I had done was punch a bag.

“I fought a guy who was undefeated, but it turned out I had pretty good stand up. I just went into the cage and started swinging, and things started connecting. I hit him, dropped him to the ground and they stopped the fight.”

Everyone was convinced of Mahe’s promise and agreed he needed to get into training. He went over the basics with a friend who was in the MMA world and won his second fight with still relatively little formal education in the sport.

Then, he continued winning, much of the time using his significant punching ability.

“We’re talking extreme, extreme power,” Steeber said. “His biggest thing is a whole lot of heart, really dedicating himself to the sport and working where he needs to improve.”

Speaking of work, Mahe spends his time away from training delivering flowers to hotels. A friend owns the business, so the hours are flexible, and he can continue his commitment to fighting.

The next opportunity is significant; he faces the undefeated Del Rosario. If he wins, however, what Mahe would like most is another shot at Johnson, who won their first fight with a TKO at the 3:29 mark into the second round.

Beyond that, Mahe puts his goals simply.

“I just want to become a champ one day,” he said, “and fight the best.”

Award-winning newspaper reporter Kyle Nagel is the lead features
writer for MMAjunkie.com. His weekly “Fight Path” column focuses on the
circumstances that led fighters to a profession in MMA. Know a fighter
with an interesting story? Email us at news [at] mmajunkie.com.

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